Italy will comply with its new NATO target of 5% of the gross domestic product for defense and security, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Monday, but it will take 10 years to make this and want changes to the EU fiscal rules.

The NATO Summit this week is expected to push alliance members to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP from today’s 2% and to commit an additional 1.5% to wider security -related costs, satisfying US President Donald’s demand for 5%.

Melona said that over -indebted Italy has managed to ensure that each country could determine what is costing security, leaving some room for a controversial issue.

Expenditure to benefit Italian companies

“These are important commitments that Italy intends to adhere to. We will not leave our country weak and unable to defend itself, “Melona said before the NATO and EU summit, scheduled for June 24-25 and June 26-27 respectively.

Melona said Italy would achieve its old NATO target for 2% defense spending this year, adding that it will have 10 years by 2035 to increase them by 1.5 percentage percentage.

Pressing to reinforce Italy’s defense budget, while minimizing any impact on its tense public finances, Meloni said it ensured that there would be no minimum annual increase in costs.

Finally, he stressed that if the country spends more on defense in order to meet its international obligations, additional costs will have to benefit Italian companies rather than foreign.